Posted on January 23, 2009 - by OP40
Obama Tackles Emissions
President Obama is continuing his reversal of Bush-era policies, issuing two memoranda on Monday that promote his clean-energy policy while having a far-reaching impact on the ailing U.S. auto industry.
The first memorandum will order the Transportation Department to work out rules for automakers to improve fuel economy. It will call for the department to notify automakers by March 2009 to increase their fuel efficiency for 2011 model year cars and trucks.
The second memorandum will order the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider California’s request for a waiver from the Clean Air Act — a move that would allow California, the nation’s most populous state, to set tougher tailpipe emission standards than apply nationally.
The president is expected to offer more details in the White House’s East Room at 10:30 a.m. ET.
The memoranda mark further reversals by Obama of policies set down by his predecessor, George W. Bush. Last week Obama used his executive power to reverse Bush’s policies on interrogation of suspected terrorists, the Guantanamo Bay detention center and funding for international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information
The latest rule on California aims to reverse a 2007 decision by the Bush Environmental Protection Agency that touched off a storm of investigations and lawsuits from Democrats and environmental groups who contended the denial was based on political instead of scientific reasons.
California’s proposed restrictions would force automakers to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and light trucks by 2016. U.S. automakers have opposed the waiver, claiming it would create two different emission standards and therefore complicate methods of manufacturing vehicles with different environmental standards.
Senior administrations officials told FOX News that Obama will not order the EPA to back California’s waiver — though they say that is the certain outcome. The state’s governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, wrote to the president last week requesting that the waiver be granted.
Thirteen other states have already signaled they will follow California’s lead in reducing tailpipe pollution. Approval of California’s waiver would affect roughly half of all cars and light trucks sold nationwide.
Obama is also expected to order new guidelines on fuel economy. The law requires that by 2020, new cars and trucks meet a standard of 35 miles per gallon, a 40 percent increase over the status quo. The Bush administration did not set regulations in support of that law.
The president on Monday is also expected to tout proposals that he says would boost clean energy supplies while also producing jobs in so-called “green” industries.
Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., who chairs key energy and global warming panels in the House and is a chief author of the new fuel economy standards being considered, said Obama is keeping his pledge to fight global warming and rebuild the economy.
“This is an energy triple play that will cut global warming pollution, increase innovation, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It shows what a visionary president is capable of doing, and the faith he has in the economic revival that America’s automotive and energy industries can produce,” he said.
FOX News’ Major Garrett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
